Teresa glared at Miriam, wondering, "What did she tell Michael?" Miriam protested vehemently, insisting she had no idea why Michael would say such a thing.

Michael looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. “I heard what you said to Miriam! You said you don’t want me anymore. We’ve relied on each other for so long. How can you bear to leave me?”

Teresa had never said she didn’t want him. After a moment’s reflection, prompted by Miriam, she remembered. It must have been the day Jonathan left Miriam’s house, and they’d had too much to drink. One might say foolish things when intoxicated.

“I’m at fault too,” Miriam admitted. “I called you a few days ago about the company’s financial issues. Michael might have overheard and thought we were going bankrupt.” Tears welled in Teresa’s eyes as she knelt and held Michael’s tiny hand. “I’ll never leave you unless you decide you don’t want me anymore.”

Michael shook his little head. “Even though you make me plain gruel every day, I still love you the most.”

Teresa continued, “I love you the most, too. Let’s never leave each other, okay?”

“Okay!” Michael broke into a smile, even lovingly wiping Teresa’s tears away.

Miriam, ever lacking in sentimentality, interrupted, shaking Teresa’s arm. “What excuse should I use to meet Edward next time?”

Teresa was speechless. “I don’t care what reason you use. Just don’t involve Michael. Is he really that great? Weren’t you determined not to like him anymore?”

Miriam dangled the bracelet on her wrist. “But he kept my bracelet safe, which means he’s really thoughtful and trustworthy.”

Teresa thought, Oh my. What a hopeless romantic. She’s helpless. Thanks to the investment, she was in a good mood, so she decided not to argue with Miriam.

The next day, Cheryl contacted Teresa. She was mentally prepared, as Donald was out of Nareigh, and Jonathan was also away. Teresa, having resolved the company’s issues and having some free time, decided to skip work that morning to accompany Cheryl to the hospital for the abortion.

Cheryl hadn’t reached the hospital yet, but she was crying uncontrollably as Teresa held her hand. “Teresa, I’m still a bit reluctant about this child.”

Teresa asked, “So, do you want the abortion or not? Haven’t you been thinking about it for two weeks now? How come you still haven’t decided?”

Cheryl shook her head, tears clinging to her eyelashes. “I’ve made up my mind.”

She’d taken Teresa’s advice to get an abortion before the baby reached two months; otherwise, it would become more difficult as it grew. However, Cheryl was still crying loudly, drawing everyone’s attention and making it seem like Teresa was forcing her.

Teresa reluctantly scheduled a gynecology appointment for Cheryl for a check-up. “Come on in,” said the female doctor, her hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, wearing thin gold-rimmed glasses that gave her a cool demeanor. Cheryl was too scared to go in alone, so Teresa went with her.

The doctor asked, “Who’s having the abortion?”

“She is,” Teresa said, placing her hand on Cheryl’s shoulder. “She needs one.”

The doctor was looking down, writing something, then looked up, her eyes resting on Teresa’s face, pausing for a moment.

Teresa called out, “Doctor? Doctor?”

The doctor snapped back to attention. “Oh. First, let’s do a check-up.” She handed the form to Teresa.

Out of the blue, the doctor asked, “Is she your biological sister?”

Cheryl shook her head. “She’s my sister-in-law.”

Seeing this, the doctor asked no further questions. She simply watched Teresa and Cheryl walk away, her gaze lingering, a hint of inexplicable sadness in her eyes.

Cheryl cried nonstop, knowing that after the check-up, she would have to say goodbye to her baby. It was her first time being a mother, yet she had to end the child’s life cruelly.

Cheryl was still worried. “Teresa, do you think they might not do a thorough job that would affect me having kids later?”

Teresa sighed. “We’re at Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the best in town. The doctors are the most professional. They won’t do a poor job and cause you problems later.”

Cheryl sniffled. “Teresa, did you give birth to Mike at this hospital too?”

Teresa said, “Yes, but the doctors who helped me were older. I didn’t see them today. The doctor doing your check-up is quite young.”

The doctor looked like she wasn’t even thirty. With that mask on, Teresa couldn’t see her face clearly but reckoned she probably looked decent.

Holding the ultrasound report, they went back to find the doctor. Teresa glanced at the name tag on the doctor’s chest—Jennifer Nelson. She didn’t know her.

Jennifer reviewed Cheryl’s examination report carefully and said, “Miss, your uterine lining is quite thin. Did you have any miscarriages before?”

Cheryl shook her head confidently. “No. This is my first pregnancy.”

Teresa added, “Doctor, this really is her first time. She’s only 22 and just graduated from university.”

Jennifer glanced at Teresa. “Her uterine lining is quite thin, and if she were to have an abortion surgery, it might make it even thinner, possibly leading to uterine rupture or even menopause, which would make having another child difficult.”

“What?” Cheryl bit her lip. “Doctor, I’m so young. I don’t want to experience menopause already.”

“Who’s the father of the child? Is he insisting on the abortion?” Jennifer asked again.

Cheryl immediately fell silent, lowered her head, and fidgeted with her fingers.

Teresa asked, “Isn’t there a way to make it painless? The side effects are so severe. She’s not ready yet to have a baby.”

“You are not married yet, right?” Jennifer sighed. “Many young girls these days get pregnant before being married, but if you insist on having an abortion, it might be harder to have children in the future. You should be prepared for that.”

Cheryl held Teresa’s hand. “Teresa, I’m not getting an abortion. I want this baby. I don’t want to risk not being a mom in the future.”

Teresa asked, “Are you sure? You have to be ready to face the consequences.”

Cheryl nodded. “I’m sure I’m not going through with the abortion. I could be a single mom like you!”

“What?” Jennifer was surprised. Her eyes flickered as she looked at Teresa. “You’re a single mom?”

There was some pity and surprise in Jennifer’s eyes, making Teresa feel a little embarrassed.

Teresa said, “Sorry to trouble you. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take her and leave now. She’s not getting the abortion. We’ll discuss it again at home.”

“Sure. Talk it over some more. There is no rush.” Jennifer put down her pen, and after Teresa left, she opened the blinds and took another look at her retreating figure. She wondered, “How did she end up being a single mom? But is it really her? Teresa? Or maybe she just looks similar.”